Workplace tradition leads to big lottery win for Canadian co-workers
After playing the lottery for years, two Canadian co-workers were stunned to finally land an impressive win.
Lottery players Daniel Asti of Frankford and Terry Istead of Trenton, Ont., have been working together in property management for years. In 2018, they decided to start their own workplace tradition — buying lottery tickets together.
As per tradition, Asti purchased a lottery ticket in December at a time when all eyes were on the $80-million Lotto Max jackpot. The day after the draw, he started his morning by checking their ticket.
“I checked the ticket on the OLG app the morning after the draw, but I didn’t have my glasses on, so I asked my wife to take a look at the screen,” recalled Asti. “She was overjoyed and started jumping up and down.”
It turns out their ticket was one of a pair of tickets that matched the winning numbers for a $1-million Maxmillions prize — they had just won $500,000 in the Dec. 26, 2025, Lotto Max draw.
Asti didn’t waste any time and immediately shared the news with Istead.
Irish Mae Silvestre/Daily Hive
“I didn’t believe him at first,” Istead recalled, laughing, “I said, ‘Are you kidding me?’ Then I told my wife and daughter-in-law. They were so happy for me.”
The co-workers headed to the OLG Prize Centre in Toronto to pick up their winnings, each of them now $250,000 richer. They also shared plans for their windfall.
Asti is putting part of his winnings towards his children’s education, while Istead is taking a trip to the Dominican Republic.
“This prize will help make both our lives a bit more comfortable,” he said. “I want to enjoy life to the fullest.”
For Asti, their perseverance paid off.
“It’s a great feeling to win big after playing together for so long,” he shared.
All forms of gambling, including the lottery, involve risk and outcomes are based on chance. Individuals are strongly advised to gamble responsibly. If you are experiencing any signs of gambling-related issues, check out these resources.